Meet the GA snake that will eat a venomous copperhead for a snack. Can it hurt you too?
Snakes have been known to eat a variety of insects, rodents, fish, eggs and reptiles, but have you ever heard of a snake eating another snake?
Well, that’s just what Agricultural & Natural Resources Agent, Paul Pugliese saw in his own backyard. It was March 2024 and Pugliese said he was “working in the backyard and discovered an Eastern Kingsnake eating another Eastern Kingsnake.”
“This a one-in-a-million chance encounter with one our most incredible native snake species that is found throughout Georgia and the Southeast,” he said.
So, what do Kingsnakes look like?
There are four different types of Kingsnakes in Georgia: Black Kingsnake, Eastern Milk Snake, Scarlet Kingsnake and the Mole Kingsnake.
According to A-Z Animals, the Black Kingsnake has smooth black scales and rings with light black bellies and the Eastern Milk Snake has a gray or tan colored body with brown spots down its body. The Scarlet Kingsnake is the vibrant one, with red, black and yellow rings all the way down its body. Last but not least, the Mole Kingsnake; this Kingsnake has a light tan or brown body and often has tiny red spots.
Kingsnakes, unlike venomous snakes in Georgia, are beneficial to have around because they are immune to the venom of copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes and can easily overpower them to eat them as a snack.
“Constriction is the primary feeding strategy, and kingsnakes are among the strongest snakes on the planet relative to their body size,” said experts at the University of Georgia.
But will they hurt humans?
In short, no. They might rattle their tail if they feel threatened and they can also release a nasty smell or even bite, but they are harmless.
If you come across a Kingsnake in Georgia, it is best to leave it alone. Remember that killing non-venomous snakes is illegal and punishable by up to a year in jail.
What do you think of this story? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Meet the GA snake that will eat a venomous copperhead for a snack. Can it hurt you too?."
